Page 44 of Twins for the Silver Foxes

He nodded along as if he were a puppet having his strings pulled. “Sure. I’m okay with that.” He grinned down at Liddy. “We don’t want her to be uncomfortable.”

Every word sounded right,tooright. Was I being paranoid or did he really sound scripted? I had no idea and my patience was running short. “Okay then. Bye, Chad.” I ducked into the space between him and the building, more grateful than I had wordsfor to express that he seemed oblivious to the fact I’d just walked out of an OB’s office carrying gift bags.

“Later, Liddy bug.” He grinned at his nickname for her.

Liddy’s fingers squeezed mine tight enough to make the joints ache. “Are we going home now?”

“Let’s go see Scott, Arthur, and Ryland.” I swung our hands back and forth. “You can show them your new giraffe.”

The distraction worked, refocusing Liddy on the positives of the day. She’d taken to calling the mansion home. I hesitated to correct her since it had started to feel that way for me too. We were welcomed once again with open arms by all three men. Even Deena seemed happy with the arrangement. If she had objections, she kept them to herself and was always pleasant when we spoke.

The shaking set in as we climbed the steps and opened the front door. I lost feeling in the hand holding the gift bags and almost dropped them as I crossed the threshold. Muttering a mental curse, I hid the bags in the coat closet, stuffing them on a shelf behind mine and Liddy’s coats.

I’d finally found my place in the world and along comes Chad to challenge everything.

Liddy skipped across the foyer, calling out for Ryland, and I stopped and leaned against the closed closet door. The feeling in the house had changed for me since I’d started working here months ago. It had felt lonely at first, almost bereft back then.

Laughter floated my way. Liddy’s laughter. Where she’d been shy with Chad, she blossomed around Ryland, Scott, and Arthur. What was a father? I’d had one of the best in the world. Chad was sadly lacking in every regard. Did I still owe him the right to see Liddy? A flutter in my belly reminded me that I had more to think about than Chad.

23

SCOTT

Irounded the corner between the study and the foyer. Hannah stood at the hall closet, one hand on her stomach, her entire body poised for flight. It seemed like the slightest movement might send her running. I’d seen that look often enough to understand it at a glance. It was fear and uncertainty with a heavy dose of guilt.

“Hannah?” I made sure my tone conveyed my concern but kept it low and unassuming. She was clearly upset and distracted, and she jumped at the sound of my voice.

“Scott.” She pushed off from the door, a smile popping out and sending my heart into overdrive. “Did Liddy find you?”

“She did.” I approached with a steady step, keeping an eye on Hannah’s reactions to every move. If she wanted me to stay away, she didn’t show any sign of it. If anything, she invited me closer with her outstretched hand. “She asked about spending the night again.”

Hannah raised both eyebrows. “Did she, or did you bring it up first?”

“You know, I can’t remember,” I said as I pretended to look up at the ceiling. Holding her hand, I spun her around in apirouette and kissed the tip of her nose when she slammed into my chest. “Either way, I told her I’d talk to you.”

“Oh, sure.” She pretended to scowl. “Make me the bad guy.”

“No way. I’ll tell her she has to go home if that’s what you want.” I splayed a hand over my heart. “Cross my heart.”

She slapped a palm over my mouth. “Don’t finish that saying. Please.”

I covered her hand with mine and kissed it. “Sorry. Old habit.” I continued when she lowered her hand. “I’d love for you and Liddy to stay again tonight.” We’d offered to let her move back in, but that step was too much for Hannah to accept right now.

“I’ll think about it.” A groove appeared between her eyes.

“What’s that about?” I traced the line with my thumb. “You’re worried.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Hannah.” I waited for her to look at me. “You can talk to us. You don’t have to deal with everything on your own anymore.”

The sudden curl of her shoulders made me glad I’d pushed. This was an unusual situation for me. I’d spent years sleeping with women once and then letting them go. Asking about their problems and listening to their concerns went against years of my life, but I did it for Hannah because I never wanted to be the reason she walked away. Ever since Arthur apologized and she started coming back around, the desperate sense of barely holding on to our rekindled relationship kept me on edge.

Liddy’s laughter mingled with Ryland and Arthur’s voices. She’d tore into the study with her new giraffe, laughing and talking so fast I lost half the conversation. Ryland understood her better, but I’d had a sense that Hannah needed me. She was always one step behind Liddy, so when I didn’t see her after a few seconds, I’d gone looking.

“I ran into Liddy’s father.” Hannah eyed me from the side.

I kept my face carefully expressionless. “And?”

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